Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Easy hit-outs for Private Eye and Lady Shenandoah
Autumnal star Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) and evergreen Private Eye (Al Maher) had steady trials on Friday morning at Warwick Farm; in a heat won by Bjorn Baker’s Bonita Queen (I Am Invincible), Private Eye was under no pressure to finish second by two and three-quarter-lengths, with Lady Shenandoah further back in sixth.
The heat also included rising 7-year-old Converge (Frankel {GB}), who hasn’t been seen at race day since January, former dual Group 3-winning juvenile Espionage (Zoustar), with Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) coming home steadily at the rear.
Unbeaten in her last five starts including three Group 1 contests, trainer Chris Waller told RSN on Friday morning that Lady Shenandoah will likely clash with Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and Fangirl (Sebring) first up in the G1 Winx Stakes.
Encap back in action
Rising 5-year-old Encap (Capitalist) may only have two wins on his record, but they are both at Group level and he spent the autumn throwing his weight around with the best, clinching third in the G1 Doncaster Handicap by less than a length. At his second trial ahead of the spring on Friday, the Gary Portelli-trained gelding sat second to G2 Autumn Stakes winner Glint Of Silver (Rubick) before letting down strongly in the Warwick Farm home straight to win by two and a quarter lengths.
A $200,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase for his trainer, Encap has amassed $1.4 million in earnings over 22 starts. His dam, G3 Vo Rogue Plate winner Enquare (Stratum), is due to foal to Lucky Vega (Ire) this season.
Boston Rocks throws down spring gauntlet
Matthew Dale’s progressive Boston Rocks (Hellbent) put in a smart trial at Warwick Farm on Friday morning under Ashley Morgan; the six-time winner tracked the leader Cape Byron (Capitalist) into the home straight before matching him stride for stride without much effort, winning by a nose on the line.
With his last two wins across two states, the rising 5-year-old gelding has his eyes firmly on a slot in this year’s $2 million Kosciuszko. He was a $100,000 Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale purchase for Kurrinda Bloodstock, who also bought his half-sister Queen’s Rhapsody (So You Think {NZ}) the following year at Inglis Easter.
Sharp return from Agarwood
Unbeaten juvenile filly Agarwood (Wootton Bassett {GB}) cruised home to a five length victory in her Warwick Farm trial on Friday morning. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the filly led from the jump and only widened the margin in the home straight under little pressure from Tim Clark, with Curie (Anders) in second.
Video: Watch the replay of Agarwood's trial win, video courtesy of Racing NSW
A half-sister to Group 3 winner Lilac (Justify {USA}), Agarwood was a $420,000 Easter purchase for her trainers, and Coolmore’s Tom Moore revealed to TTR recently that she will most likely target the Darley Princess Series this spring. Her dam Paulownia (Fastnet Rock) was one of a handful of mares sent north to visit Justify (USA) last spring, and is due to foal to the stallion next month.
Captivant’s full brother nears raceday return
Outer Banks (Capitalist), a full brother to Kia Ora Stud’s resident Group 1 winner Captivant, has only had the one start to date, and his most recent trial on Friday at Warwick Farm revealed a more furnished gelding. The 2-year-old, trained by Peter Snowden, sat at the rear of the field until turning into the home straight, before weaving his way to victory by a head under Kerrin McEvoy.
Video: Watch the trial replay of Outer Banks, video courtesy of Racing NSW
China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy paid $625,000 for Outer Banks as a weanling from Ashleigh Thoroughbreds’ dispersal at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. Dam Speedboat (Commands) has since produced a full brother last spring, and is due to foal to Extreme Choice this season.
Banknote Hustler hustles home
The lightly raced Banknote Hustler (Capitalist) showed speed in his second trial for the preparation on Friday morning; turning the corner wide at the head of the pack, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained gelding then picked up the pace and put a near three-length margin over eventual placegetter Goulburn (Lucky Vega {Ire}).
Video: Watch Banknote Hustler's trial replay, video courtesy of Racing NSW
A $475,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for TFI and Mick Price, Banknote Hustler is the fourth foal from dual Listed winner Torvill (Not A Single Doubt), who is deceased following delivering an Anamoe colt last spring.
